Chargers not running from poor tackling

For the second-consecutive week, the Chargers left the field frustrated about the way they defended the run.

“Whether it’s preseason or regular season, we want to stop the run,” linebacker Shaun Phillips said. “That’s one thing we pride ourselves on doing. We have to go back to the drawing board and find out what we need to correct.”

A week after allowing 183 rushing yards at St. Louis, the Chargers gave up 162 to Seattle Monday night. The Seahawks averaged 5.1 yards per carry and ripped off eight runs of eight yards or more. Five of those eight long carries came with the Chargers’ first team defense on the field.

“We need to tackle better,” Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner said. “When we see the film we’ll break it down and see where the breakdowns were. We need to get it fixed.”

While there wasn’t a sense of panic, the Bolts were disappointed about their approach.

“It’s just being a little bit more emotional, having a little bit more of an attitude when we step out on that field and coming out with a little more fire,” defensive end Luis Castillo said. “We’ll be fine.”

The Chargers were playing without three-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Jamal Williams, who specialize in clogging the middle and making things difficult on opponents’ ground attack. Although Williams wasn’t in the lineup, Castillo put some of the blame on the defensive line.

“It all starts up front,” Castillo said. “It starts with those three linemen. If we don’t control that offensive line, know them back and take care of business, then we’re going to struggle a little bit. It’s on us and we’ll take care of it.”

Seattle’s success on the ground regularly put them in 3rd-and-short, which made it difficult for the Chargers to get off the field. The Seahawks were 4-of-6 (67 percent) on third down in the first half.

“It adds up,” linebacker Jyles Tucker said. “It’s tough to get off the field when they gain five yards on first down. It’s simple to say, but we’ve got to do a better job.”

Turner commended Seahawks Head Coach Mike Holmgren for his play calling, citing Seattle’s ability to create favorable match ups in the running game through formations.

“They spread us out real good,” Turner said. “When you’re spread out, you’re in more one-on-one situations so our ability to tackle one-on-one in space and get a lot of guys to the ball, those are the key issues when you talk about tackling.”

Allowing large rushing totals isn’t something the Chargers are used to. They’ve finished in the NFL’s top 10 in rushing yards allowed per game in seven out of the last 11 regular seasons.

“We’re not used to that happening around here,” safety Clinton Hart said. “It’s one thing to talk about fixing it and it’s another to go get it fixed. It’s frustrating, but we’re going to make it right. There’s too much pride here to not.”

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